About Us

The company started with the passion of my parents Ivo and Antonietta Borgo, under the name Borgo Smallgoods Co. In 2014, I decided to change our name to truly reflect our history and culture to Borgo Salumi. Salumi is what the Italians call smallgoods.

What we do is take a product, which has been made for generations, but use modern techniques. We have always made our salumi to look and taste like you would find in Italy.

I believe in never cutting corners and take great personal pride in our uncompromising high standard using traditional Italian techniques.

Arsiero, Italy

Our History

Where our story began…

From the serene countryside of Arsiero in Veneto, Italy, to the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, a young Ivo Borgo arrived on the shores of Australia in 1952. He arrived with the salami making techniques his father had passed on to him and plenty of Italian passion. And so the story begins…

Armed with his experience in a Melbourne smallgoods company, and the time-honoured salami making techniques, Ivo and his wife Antonietta opened their first butcher shop in Melbourne in 1958.

It wasn’t long before, the Borgo reputation for authentic Italian, high quality salami, had made its mark on the Melbourne streets and they were approached to form a partnership known as Lago Smallgoods Company.

Ivo could see the European migrant population begin to spill into Queensland and in 1965 the partnership came to an end. By moving to Brisbane the Borgo family decided to introduce a little of their own Italian magic to the growing Queensland population. In 1966 Ivo and Antonietta opened Queensland’s first ever Italian style smallgoods manufacturing plant, Borgo Smallgoods Company.

Keeping with family tradition, Ivo’s two sons Odino and Luigi entered the family business back in the late 1970s, with two of his daughters Diana and Sonia also joining the business in the 1990s. It is now run by Luigi, who purchased the business from his parents in 2006 to continue the tradition. Luigi now with his son, Anthony, makes it three generations.

A lot of what we do honours over half a century of our family tradition - uncompromising quality at all times.

What we do is take a product, which has been made for generations, but use modern techniques. We have always made our salumi to look and taste like you would find in Italy.

Where Ivo Borgo called home in Italy - Arsiero

The Borgo family home in Arsiero, Italy

Ivo Borgo

Ivo Borgo out the front of the factory in Melbourne

The factory in Melbourne

Manufacturing at the Melbourne factory

Luigi & his brother, Odino as children in front of the Brisbane factory circa 1966

The factory circa 1966 in Brisbane

Salumi circa 1970's

Our Factory

Borgo Salumi is renowned for the uncompromising quality of its large range of Salumi.

The factory facilities are amongst the best in the land and hygiene is always a top priority.

Borgo Salumi is recognised throughout the industry as having one of the best designed and quality assured operations in Australia. An operation where traditional artisan methods of manufacture are still employed combined with cutting edge technology.

Our Process

Borgo Salumi has a reputation for excellent production methods, an established and documented HACCP program, quality assurance controls and modern technology. In their quest for excellence, new technology and equipment are employed to guarantee that their products maintain consistency in flavour and quality.

Supplying a wide range of gourmet outlets, delicatessens, restaurants and hotels, Borgo Salumi prides itself on the high quality and authentic taste of their products. This can only be achieved by using superior quality meat and ingredients in the production process.

The team have maintained a hand-made approach to processing. It is their mantra to keep the flavours simple, true to the raw ingredients, designed to enhance not mask. Combining time-honoured tradition with technology, the Borgo brand represents the best in taste and quality available in Australia.

Enjoy salumi how they were meant to be. Enjoy Borgo’s award-winning range.

Our Range

Italy is a country steeped in history and tradition. One of those traditions was that the family would keep a pig. When it came time, this pig would be cured and every part of it would be used to provide the family with food throughout the year. In Italian kitchens or cantinas you would find a range of home-cured sausages, salami and prosciutto hanging from the ceiling.

The word Salame originates from the word “sale” (salt) and “ame” originally meaning all kinds of meat, thus all kinds of salt meats. The word Salame later changed to mean only the salted and spiced minced meat which was filled into a casing, usually an animal intestine, then cured, fermented and air-dried for several weeks or months.

The word Salami is the plural of Salame meaning more than one.

The word Salumi is used to describe lots of different types of salted cured meats. Salumi can be Prosciutto, Coppa, Pancetta, Mortadella, Sausages, Cotechino as well as Salami; Salame is a type of Salumi.

These cured meats, salumi, would be served either as an antipasto before a meal or used as an essential part of the primo or secondo piatto (entrée or main course). Wherever you travel in Italy, you will find regional variations on the same theme. A traditional Tuscan antipasto will consist of a selection of thinly sliced affettati, cheese and pickled vegetables.